Tesla grabs Audi exec to help ramp up production

Published 6:13 pm, Friday, May 13, 2016

Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press

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FILE - In this June 22, 2012 file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk waves during a rally at the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif. Musk has five states bidding up subsidy packages to land a coveted plant for a $5 billion factory to make batteries for a new generation of Tesla electric cars. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File) less

FILE - In this June 22, 2012 file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk waves during a rally at the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif. Musk has five states bidding up subsidy packages to land a coveted plant for a $5 ... more

Peter Hochholdinger will be responsible for ramping up and improving production of Tesla’s popular Model S sedan and new Model X crossover SUV at the company’s Fremont factory. He will also help create the manufacturing program for the upcoming Model 3, due next year.

Quality issues and a recall have slowed the introduction of the Model X, which first hit the market in September. Tesla managed to build fewer than 3,200 by the end of March. Now Tesla wants to expand annual output of all its models, combined, from 50,500 cars last year to 500,000 in 2018 and 1 million in 2020.

Hochholdinger spent the last 22 years at Audi, most recently leading production of the German automaker’s A4, A5 and Q5 vehicles. According to Tesla, he has been responsible for the annual production of about 400,000 vehicles — close to Tesla’s target. He has also helped the company bring online a new Audi plant in Mexico.

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